Conveying apparatus



2 SheetsSheet 1.

(NQ MOdGL) MIG-06,357,

Patented Oct. 10, 1893.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. L; BOARD. CONVEYING APPARATUS. ,35'7. Patented Oct.10, .1893.

(No Model.)

anvemz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. BOARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 506,357, dated October10, 1893. Application filed December 7, 1892. Serial No. 454,327. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES L. BOARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, n the county of Cook, State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Conveying Apparatus;and I declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description ofthe same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of can soldering machines in whichthe cans are grasped by suitable mechanism carried along, and one endtreated to the solder bath, and then the end reversed, and the oppositeend treated to the solder bath. Heretofore in this class of machines anendless chain has been provided, and at regular intervals on this chainthe clamping mechanism for holding the can has been placed.

The object of my invention is to dispense with this endless chain andprovide a series of carriages 'or carriers running on an endless trackand driven by suitable power.

The invention consists in a combination of devices and applianceshereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1. is a side elevation of aportion of mymechanism; Fig. 2. an end elevation showing the track in section; Fig.3. a plan view of the carrier on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4. a sideelevation of the same; Fig. 5. an end view.

In carrying outthe invention A represents a suitable frame work shown inFigs. 1. and 2. to which the endless track B is engaged. This track iscomposed of a lower portion 5, having the ridges bb and the uppersection W. The car or carrier runs between the two track sections ashereinafter described.

0 is the frame work of the carrier provided with bearings c at each endthrough which the axle c is extended on which the wheels, or rollers DDare journaled. At each end of the frame beyond the bearings c are whatmay be termed the bumpers O. Extending out from the frame 0 and pivotedthereto by the bolt E is the frame E, and to this frame E the canclamping mechanism is engaged, but as this forms no part of my invention, I have not shown it. It will be observed that the wheels D haveflatperipheries, while the peripheries of the wheels D are channeled.Now as will be seen by reference to Fig. 2.the Wheels D travel on theridge 1), while the wheels D travel on the ridge b both sets of Wheelsbeing held down to the track by the portion Z2 of the track. At one endof the loop formed by the endless track is what may be termed a sprocketwheel F. The projections or sprockets f on the periphery of the wheelbeing so spaced that they will enter the opening a in the frame of thecarriage. It will thus be seen that by filling the entire track withcarriages and allowing the bumpers of each carriage to come in contactwith those next adjacent, when one carriage is pushed along the trackthe entire line will be moved. Thus by revolving the sprocket wheel F,those carriages that are engaged by the sprockets, that is, those whichare at that end of the frame, will be moved along and will push the onenext adjacent, and so on until the entire line is moved. Should one ofthese carriages get out of order, it is a very simple matter to removeit and place in position another without any detaching of links, as hasheretofore been the case where an endless chain was used to carry thecans. This construction is therefore much simpler and fully as effectiveas the constructions heretofore in use.

While I have herein described the invention as applicable to a cansoldering machine, yet it is obvious that the track might be arranged ona horizontal plane and used for any work, or process where it isdesirable to have an endless line of carriers.

What I claim is- 1. The combination with an endless track of a series ofcarriers traveling on said track and substantially filling the space onsaid track whereby one carrier is closely adjacent to, or in contactwith the carrier next adja cent but entirely disconnected fromthelatter, and means for engaging one or more of the carriers to move itthrough a prescribed space, thereby moving all the carriers in advanceby pushing them, substantially as described.

I 2. The combination with an endless track of said carriers beingadjacent to but entirely disconnected from the carriers next adjacentand means for pushing the line of carriers around the track,substantially as described. I5

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES L. BOARD.

Witnesses:

W. H. CHAMBERLIN, J. RAYHILL.

